High-rise syndrome was diagnosed in 119 cats over a 4-year period. 59.6% of cats were younger than one year, and the average height of the fall was four stories. High-rise syndrome was more frequent during the warmer period of the year. 96.5% of the presented cats, survived after the fall. 46.2% of cats had fractured limbs; 38.5% of fractures were of the forelimb, 61.5% of the hindlimb. The tibia was fractured most often (36.4%), followed by the femur (23.6%). 78.6% of femoral fractures were distal. The mean age of patients with femoral fractures was 9.1 months, and with tibial fractures 29.2 months. Thoracic trauma was diagnosed in 33.6% of cats. Pneumothorax was diagnosed in 20% of cats, and pulmonary contusions in 13.4%. Falls from the seventh or higher stories, are associated with more severe injuries and with a higher incidence of thoracic trauma.

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OBJECTIVE To compare analgesic and gastrointestinal effects of lidocaine and buprenorphine administered to rabbits undergoing ovariohysterectomy. ANIMALS Fourteen 12-month-old female New Zealand White rabbits. PROCEDURES Rabbits were assigned to 2 treatment groups (7 rabbits/group). One group received buprenorphine (0.06 mg/kg, IV, q 8 h for 2 days), and the other received lidocaine (continuous rate infusion [CRI] at 100 μg/kg/min for 2 days). Variables, including food and water consumption, fecal output, glucose and cortisol concentrations, and behaviors while in exercise pens, were recorded. RESULTS Rabbits receiving a lidocaine CRI had significantly higher gastrointestinal motility, food intake, and fecal output and significantly lower glucose concentrations, compared with results for rabbits receiving buprenorphine. Rabbits receiving lidocaine also had a higher number of normal behaviors (eg, sprawling, traveling, and frolicking) after surgery, compared with behaviors such as crouching and sitting that were seen more commonly in rabbits receiving buprenorphine. Both groups had significant weight loss after surgery. Pain scores did not differ significantly between treatment groups. Significant decreases in heart rate and respiratory rate were observed on the day of surgery, compared with values before and after surgery. Rabbits in the lidocaine group had significantly overall lower heart rates than did rabbits in the buprenorphine group. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE A CRI of lidocaine to rabbits provided better postoperative outcomes with respect to fecal output, food intake, and glucose concentrations. Thus, lidocaine appeared to be a suitable alternative to buprenorphine for alleviating postoperative pain with minimal risk of anorexia and gastrointestinal ileus.

Use of two force plates decreased trial repetition and collection time. Vertical GRF data had a similar coefficient of variation with either one or two force plates collection techniques in healthy dogs.

The Veterinary Record, February 5, 2005 pouching of the rectal wall) was revealed. The right semitendinosus muscle was dissected and transected at the midbelly, and the flap was rotated beneath the anus (Fig 3). The external anal sphincter, coccygeal muscle, levator ani muscle and internal obturator muscle were exposed. For repair of the left side of the perineal hernia, the original medial border of the semitendinosus muscle was sutured to the ventral part of the external anal sphincter, and the original lateral border was sutured to the ventral part of the coccygeal muscle, levator ani muscle and internal obturator muscle on the ischiatic table. The distal end of the semitendinosus muscle was sutured to the dorsal part of the coccygeal and levator ani muscles. A single interrupted suture pattern and polypropylene 2/0 USP (Prolene; Ethicon) were used. The subcutis and skin were closed in a routine fashion. Because of the length of this operation, repair of the prepubic hernia was delayed for two weeks.Butorphanol (Butomidor; Richter-Pharma) at a dose of 0·1 mg/kg was given intramuscularly at four-hour intervals during the first day after surgery. The cat first defecated on the second day after surgery; defecation appeared to be painless, with minimal straining. There were no problems with gait or urination, but the owner observed that the cat ran more slowly and became tired more quickly than was usual. The stitches were removed 10 days after the operation.The prepubic hernia was repaired 15 days after the first surgery. Under the general anaesthesia described above, an approach through the caudal ventral midline was made. The urinary bladder was found in the prepubic hernia. The caudal border of the ruptured rectus muscles was sutured to the prepubic ligament and the pubic bone with horizontal mattress sutures using nylon 1 USP (Dermalon; David-Geck). The subcutis and skin were closed routinely. After the operation, analgesia was provided as described above. Straining during defecation resolved a few days after the surgery, and the stitches were removed on the 10th day following surgery.Surgical repair of the right side of the hernia was not carried out; once a month the cat was brought to the clinic for control of the right side of the perineal diaphragm.One year after the operation, the cat remained healthy. The perineal diaphragm on the left side and the ventral side was PERINEAL hernia occurs when separation of the pelvic diaphragm muscles allows caudal displacement of the pelvic or abdominal organs, or lateral deviation (diverticulum, dilatation or sacculation) of the rectum into the perineum (Welches and others 1992). It occurs most commonly in dogs, but sporadic cases in cats have also been described (Ashton 1976, Leighton 1979, Johnson and Gourley 1980; Welches and others (1992) described 40 cases in cats. The aetiology of perineal hernia in cats is unclear. In the study by Welches and others (1992), 20 of the cats had pre-existing or concurrent medical problems that may have played an important rol...